Democrats drive historic early voting numbers in Texas Senate primary
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High Democratic turnout in Texas’s Senate primary is driving record early voting numbers, giving hope to Democrats in the reliably red state.
Though primary turnout is usually lower in nonpresidential election years, the 2026 primary has drawn unusually close attention, largely due to the race between state Rep. James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). In the first seven days of primary voting, a record 1,259,356 votes were cast — 665,664 for Democrats and 593,692 for Republicans, according to unofficial data from the Texas secretary of state, obtained by the Texas Tribune.
The unusually high turnout, greater than the past two presidential election cycles and almost double that of 2022, has stirred hope within Democrats that they could win statewide office for the first time in over three decades. Of particular note to Texas Democrats was Democratic enthusiasm in Harris County and Tarrant County, the most populous Democratic county and the most populous purple county, respectively.
“Tarrant, like Texas, often has the lowest voter participation of any urban county in the United States, so we have a large amount of room to grow that allows us to put up big numbers,” Tarrant County Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Campolo told the outlet. “The fact that Tarrant County voters are waking up day after day and … putting up bigger numbers than Republicans … absolutely leads us into November with a really strong turnout and engagement.”
COLIN ALLRED ENDORSES JASMINE CROCKETT, SAYS JAMES TALARICO CALLED HIM ‘MEDIOCRE BLACK MAN’
However, Texas Democrats have dreamt about flipping the state for many election cycles now, and it has yet to come true for them. Democrats also have historical strength in early and special election voting.
Democrats have kept their optimism as Republicans made gains during the last election cycle, despite the formerly solidly liberal Latino demographic growing in size in the state. Trump’s record inroads into the demographic in 2024 served as a major blow to Democratic hopes in the state.
Talarico has drawn nationwide Democratic support over his liberal appeals to his Christian faith, which the party believes can break into more conservative voting groups. In contrast, Crockett has run as an unabashed progressive Democrat, leaning into her firebrand image and status as a black woman.
Race has featured prominently in the campaign. Crockett has repeatedly accused Talarico, explicitly and implicitly, of racism. A scandal …
Why resist verification?
High Democratic turnout in Texas’s Senate primary is driving record early voting numbers, giving hope to Democrats in the reliably red state.
Though primary turnout is usually lower in nonpresidential election years, the 2026 primary has drawn unusually close attention, largely due to the race between state Rep. James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). In the first seven days of primary voting, a record 1,259,356 votes were cast — 665,664 for Democrats and 593,692 for Republicans, according to unofficial data from the Texas secretary of state, obtained by the Texas Tribune.
The unusually high turnout, greater than the past two presidential election cycles and almost double that of 2022, has stirred hope within Democrats that they could win statewide office for the first time in over three decades. Of particular note to Texas Democrats was Democratic enthusiasm in Harris County and Tarrant County, the most populous Democratic county and the most populous purple county, respectively.
“Tarrant, like Texas, often has the lowest voter participation of any urban county in the United States, so we have a large amount of room to grow that allows us to put up big numbers,” Tarrant County Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Campolo told the outlet. “The fact that Tarrant County voters are waking up day after day and … putting up bigger numbers than Republicans … absolutely leads us into November with a really strong turnout and engagement.”
COLIN ALLRED ENDORSES JASMINE CROCKETT, SAYS JAMES TALARICO CALLED HIM ‘MEDIOCRE BLACK MAN’
However, Texas Democrats have dreamt about flipping the state for many election cycles now, and it has yet to come true for them. Democrats also have historical strength in early and special election voting.
Democrats have kept their optimism as Republicans made gains during the last election cycle, despite the formerly solidly liberal Latino demographic growing in size in the state. Trump’s record inroads into the demographic in 2024 served as a major blow to Democratic hopes in the state.
Talarico has drawn nationwide Democratic support over his liberal appeals to his Christian faith, which the party believes can break into more conservative voting groups. In contrast, Crockett has run as an unabashed progressive Democrat, leaning into her firebrand image and status as a black woman.
Race has featured prominently in the campaign. Crockett has repeatedly accused Talarico, explicitly and implicitly, of racism. A scandal …
Democrats drive historic early voting numbers in Texas Senate primary
Why resist verification?
High Democratic turnout in Texas’s Senate primary is driving record early voting numbers, giving hope to Democrats in the reliably red state.
Though primary turnout is usually lower in nonpresidential election years, the 2026 primary has drawn unusually close attention, largely due to the race between state Rep. James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). In the first seven days of primary voting, a record 1,259,356 votes were cast — 665,664 for Democrats and 593,692 for Republicans, according to unofficial data from the Texas secretary of state, obtained by the Texas Tribune.
The unusually high turnout, greater than the past two presidential election cycles and almost double that of 2022, has stirred hope within Democrats that they could win statewide office for the first time in over three decades. Of particular note to Texas Democrats was Democratic enthusiasm in Harris County and Tarrant County, the most populous Democratic county and the most populous purple county, respectively.
“Tarrant, like Texas, often has the lowest voter participation of any urban county in the United States, so we have a large amount of room to grow that allows us to put up big numbers,” Tarrant County Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Campolo told the outlet. “The fact that Tarrant County voters are waking up day after day and … putting up bigger numbers than Republicans … absolutely leads us into November with a really strong turnout and engagement.”
COLIN ALLRED ENDORSES JASMINE CROCKETT, SAYS JAMES TALARICO CALLED HIM ‘MEDIOCRE BLACK MAN’
However, Texas Democrats have dreamt about flipping the state for many election cycles now, and it has yet to come true for them. Democrats also have historical strength in early and special election voting.
Democrats have kept their optimism as Republicans made gains during the last election cycle, despite the formerly solidly liberal Latino demographic growing in size in the state. Trump’s record inroads into the demographic in 2024 served as a major blow to Democratic hopes in the state.
Talarico has drawn nationwide Democratic support over his liberal appeals to his Christian faith, which the party believes can break into more conservative voting groups. In contrast, Crockett has run as an unabashed progressive Democrat, leaning into her firebrand image and status as a black woman.
Race has featured prominently in the campaign. Crockett has repeatedly accused Talarico, explicitly and implicitly, of racism. A scandal …
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